The New Paltz Oracle

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Volume 87, Issue XII

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

SMELLS LIKE

TROUBLE Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Town Board Talks Possible Sewage Plant Next To High School STORY ON PAGE 3 | EDITORIAL ON PAGE 9

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE NEW PALTZ ORACLE

• 3D Printing Initiative Continues To Progress................Pg 4 • Tim Rogers Denied Reappointment To Planning Board.......Pg 6 • Freedom Of Speech Jeopordized In Terrorist Attacks...Pg 5 • Zimet Faces Consequences Of Insensitive Comment............Pg 7

PHOTO BY LIZZIE NIMETZ

Abbott Brant EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kristen Warfield MANAGING EDITOR

NEW PALTZ ORACLE THE

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Anthony DeRosa NEWS EDITOR

Jennifer Newman FEATURES EDITOR

Russell Hartman

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Melissa Kramer SPORTS EDITOR

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Maxwell Reide Lizzie Nimetz

Theresa Mattia PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Mike Sheinkopf CARTOONIST

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Nate Sheidlower Sam Manzella Karl Evers-Hillstrom Melanie Zerah Amya Pinka Michael Rosen Amanda Copkov

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STAFF April Castillo, Nick Fodera, Sally Moran, Eileen Liebler, Jahna Romano, Kaycia Sailsman, Dana Schmerzler, Shelby Seip, Kelly Seiz, Jack Sommer, Ryan Walz, Sage Higgins

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The New Paltz Oracle is the official student newspaper of SUNY New Paltz. Our circulation is 2,500. The New Paltz Oracle is sponsored by the Student Association and partially funded by the student activity fee.

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Incident: Suspicious Person Date: 1/24/15 Location: Faculty Tower Subject found sleeping on the table in FT. Subject had lost room key and was waiting for someone could open the door.

UPO transported subject back to residence and was let in.

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Sewage Project Sparks Community Controversy

By Abbott Brant

Editor-In-Chief | N02167035@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Talks of a proposed sewage treatment plant to be built on the property adjacent to New Paltz High School on South Putt Corners Road have caused concern among the New Paltz Board of Education and throughout the community, who feel that New Paltz Town Supervisor Susan Zimet and town board members in support of the plant have not been transparent about the possible plan.

The property next to the high school is one of multiple possible placements of a sewage facility that is necessary for the long planned expansion of South Putt Corners Road, Zimet said.

In 1960 the Town of New Paltz designated South Putt Corners Road as an area to create and flourish business, creating jobs and relieving taxes for the community, Zimet said.

In 1995 the town board drafted a generic environment impact statement — a study to see if a projected project meets certain standards and does not negatively impact the environment.

If this threshold is met, “you can fast track your project,” Zimet said. However, the lack of an adequate sewer structure for the town halted any progress that would make that area an industrial corridor that was envisioned to bring in businesses, she said.

“In 2016 or 2017, the county is going to be spending a lot of money ripping up the roads, widening shoulders, putting in parking,” Zimet said. “In preparation for this, the town began a study four years ago to determine on how to address the sewage issue, with four possible opportunities.”

The first proposed option was to join the New Paltz village’s system and/or build a new sewer plant in conjunction with the village. Until recently, Zimet said, the New Paltz Village Board and New Paltz Village Mayor Jason West had repeatedly denied holding discussions about this option.

Zimet said the second option would be to work with the possible Park Point sewage plan, if the proposed project could not use the village sewer system. Zimet said that for the moment, with the project in court limbo, this is not a foreseeable option, unless the town should lose or settle the case and the project goes forth.

Two other possible locations are next to the high school on South Putt Corners Road and another on North Putt Corners Road.

According to Zimet both these locations are Department of Environmental Conservation

(DEC) approved and studies were conducted to see how viable these locations were as legitimate options for the sewage plant.

The location next to the high school where the treatment facility would be built would be purchased from town board member Kevin Barry, who owns the property.

I think a number of conversations occurred that I wasn’t involved in.

One board member said discussion over this has been occurring through email for over a year.

DAN TORRES Thus far, there has not been an officially designated location for the sewage plant and the town board is still in the infant stages of implementing the building of anything, Zimet said. Any outrage by the school board or community members to the town board’s alleged lack of transparency is in actuality a veiled push for a political agenda, she said.

Steven Greenfield, a New Paltz Board of Education member, said his concerns over the town board’s intentions are valid. Greenfield said the school board was not aware that a sewage treatment plant next to the highschool was being discussed until last November, when New Paltz Town Engineer David Clouser reached out to discuss the proposed structure. Prior to that, the school board was not told any discussion pertaining to a sewage treatment plant was taking place, Greenfield said.

Zimet said Greenfield took the engineer’s information and misrepresented it to the school district, resulting in the drafting of a resolution of opposition to the possibility of a sewage treatment facility next to the school.

“They attacked the town board in a very disturbing way,” Zimet said. “And now what has happened is a basic mob-mentality of people within our community. The idea that this was all a secret and next week we are building a sewage plant next to the high school is far from the truth — it’s preposterous.”

’

Zimet believes this resolution, along with what she called a “witch hunt” of the town board, is responsible for the frenzy created against the town board and the possible sewage treatment plant being built by the high school.

“It’s a political agenda against the town

board,” she said.

In an attack against the board and Barry’s staunch stance against passing the district bond votes, Zimet said the school board is retaliating against the idea of placing the sewage facility next to the high school, as well as Barry’s role in the discussion of such topics that may lead to his monetary benefit.

“Kevin has never been part of the buying of the property, has not voted on anything, but Kevin has every right to be there to talk about the multiple proposals,” she said.

Zimet said Jeff Logan, the New Paltz Town Planning Board liaison, is meeting with developers to discuss their sewer needs to get a grasp on what the town would need during and after its growth.

“Any conversation in terms of actual planning or a location would be a waste of time so far,” Zimet said.

But New Paltz Deputy Village Mayor Rebcca Rotzler said when Clouser gave his presentation on a sewer system at the Jan. 15 board meeting, directly referring to the New Paltz High School and to the odors that would be emitted from a sewage treatment plant placed in such proximity, progress far beyond the beginning stages seemed to have been made, leaving those not on the town board in the dark.

“He was obviously paid by the town to research that property next to the high school

Thursday, January 29, 2015

as a site for sewage treatment plant,” Rotzler said.

Not only were those outside of the town board left out of the discussion, Greenfield said, but the town board in its entirety was not provided with the “same deliberation materials for the agenda,” referring to New Paltz Town Councilman Dan Torres.

Zimet said the discussion of possible sewage plant locations since has been occurring since 1996.

“It’s not a secret, nothing was ever a secret. Dan never took it upon himself to ask a question and educate himself on what this study was all about,” Zimet said.

Torres said he knew about the studies being conducted pertaining to the creation of a new sewage facility, but did not know of a set list of locations, of which included the high school.

“I think a number of conversations occurred that I wasn’t involved in,” Torres said.

“One board member said discussion over this has been occurring through email for over a year.”

A letter from Clouser to the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency outlining the sewage plan specifically at the high school and referring to the start of land negotiations lead Torres to believe the town board has overstepped their boundaries, discussing plans and land acquisition for the location on South Putt Corners Road without making these plans known.

“I’m more interested in talking about policy, not personality,” Torres said. “We’re reading 10 pages of email at meetings rather than talking about the issue.”

Torres said he thinks the conversation should be on determining if a new sewage plant is really needed and taking a closer look at all feasible options.

Zimet said her main goal is to still conjoin with the village sewage system, an option that she said the DEC is the most supportive of. Despite past opposition from the village board, Zimet said village board member Sally Rhodes requested a special meeting to discuss for the first time the town and village working together to aid both their sewer needs.

“The very people who are fighting us for proposing it at the high school should be trying to convince the village,” Zimet said. “If we would work with the village we could get very serious grants to move the sewage plant to higher land and create a state of the art sewage system. More grants means less tax payer money.”

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NEWS BRIEFS WORLD

News

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3D Printing Continues to Capture Creativity

NORTH KOREA MAY BE RESTARTING NUKE PLANT: US INSTITUTE North Korea may be attempting to restart its main nuclear bomb fuel reactor after a five-month shutdown, a U.S. research institute said Thursday. If true, the finding, which is based on recent commercial satellite imagery, will be an added worry for the United States and the North’s neighbors at a time of increasing animosity over recent U.S. sanctions against the North.

INQUEST: CAFÉ HOSTAGE KILLED BY POLICE BULLET A hostage who died during a siege in a downtown Sydney cafe was killed when she was struck by fragments of a bullet fired from a police officer’s gun as authorities stormed in to end the 16hour standoff, a lawyer told an inquest on Thursday.

US MUST RETURN GUANTANAMO FOR NORMAL RELATIONS Cuban President Raul Castro demanded on Wednesday that the United States return the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, lift the half-century trade embargo on Cuba and compensate his country for damages before the two nations re-establish normal relations.

HEZBOLLAH FIRES MISSILES KILLING 2 ISRAELI SOLDIERS The Lebanese militant Hezbollah group fired a salvo of missiles at an Israeli military convoy in a disputed border area Wednesday, killing two soldiers and triggering deadly clashes that marked the most serious escalation since the sides’ 2006 war.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

MakerBot 3D printers on display in the Digi-Fab lab.

By Sam Manzella

Copy Editor | Manzells1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

SUNY New Paltz’s new 3D printing technology continues to capture the attention of local business owners, entrepreneurs and designers alike.

According to Dean of the Science and Engineering department Dan Freedman, the advanced manufacturing center has attracted a “whole range of interesting clientele.” Freedman said the center has worked with about 50 different clients so far. He also said that the new machines allow students and faculty to work with higher-end materials, which opens up new doors for projects that previously would have been impossible.

Freedman detailed some of the interesting projects that students and faculty have undertaken using 3D printing and digital design. He cited a recent project that he and Katherine Wilson, a graduate student and assistant at MakerBot Innovation Center, completed over the winter vacation.

PHOTO BY LIZZIE NIMETZ

“We did some work for Progressive Insurance, 3D printing a bumper for an RV,” Freedman said. “It wasn’t that old an RV, and I was wondering why they couldn’t get parts, and [the company] said that a lot of RV manufacturers went out of business after 2008. It was a 2004 model, but it got hit in the right front quarter panel that you can’t find parts for it. So Kat Wilson modeled the bumper based on the one from the other side, and we 3D printed a replica of it.

They’re going to use that as a mold to fiberglass over for the RV.” Freedman said that the faculty involves science, engineering and design students as much as possible with these professional projects. He also described the program’s six current interns, who provide diverse perspectives and skill sets to these complex projects.

“Both on design and production, we have students involved,” Freedman said. “We have undergrads and graduate students. We have six interns right now; one graduate MFA student, three

Thursday, January 29, 2015

engineering students, one business student who does all of the business side of these operations and one student who is floating back and forth between art and biology and is now doing a contract major in digital design and fabrication. It’s a really wonderful group of interns.”

Freedman also described some of the new courses available in the second semester of the Digital Design and Fabrication program at New Paltz.

“There’s Crafting and Virtual Space II, which Kat Wilson is teaching, and then Intro to Mechatronics, which is being taught by an adjunct in the engineering department, Ken Bird,” Freedman said. “It’s going to be really neat.”

Most importantly, Freedman said, is the department’s goal with these new courses, new technologies and new programs.

“The program is beyond 3D design and printing,” Freedman said. “We’re trying to show how you can bring all of these disciplines together.”

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French Terror Attacks Challenge Freedom of Speech

By Melanie Zerah

Copy Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmaiil.newpaltz.edu

Violence and protest proceeding the publication of cartoon images of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad by French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo has raised much opinion over the rights of journalists when it comes to respecting religious manners.

The violence that resulted from the ridicule of Prophet Muhammad included the murder of 12 staff members of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, including former top editor Stephane Charbonnier, among various cartoonists and police officers. These murders are in addition to many brutal demonstrations in Niger, Pakistan and Algeria. According to an article in The New York Times, not only was the publication of such cartoons seen as irresponsible by the French government, but also viewed as a provocation by many Muslims especially during a time of uproar in the Islamic world.

In contrast to those angered by Charlie Hebdo, many journalists and French citizens have come to the defense of freedom of speech in France. A video on The New York Times website documented thousands of French protestors gathered in the Place de la République to show support for free speech and solidarity for those who were killed in terrorist attacks at Charlie Hebdo hours after they occurred.

“Today they have messed with something that’s essential in France; freedom of expression and freedom of the press,” interviewee MarieFrance Delol said. “I think it’s intolerable and I came here today to express my resentment.”

The hashtag “Je Suis Charlie” has spread among those who are mourning the loss of those murdered in the terrorist attacks and those showing their support of free speech and expression

in France. According to French citizen Joachim Roncin in an article on foreignpolicy.com, the hashtag is meant to say “I am not afraid.”

According to an article on bbcnews.com, Pope Francis said that horrific violence cannot be justified; however there should be limits in freedom of expression when attempting to mock another religion.

“People should be able to say in a traditional journalistic venue controversial things to a certain extent in a free society,” associate professor of political science Daniel Lipson said. “I think the healthiest approach is that producers of controversial material should try to tone it down, but they legally don’t necessarily have to in most countries that are free.”

According to Lipson, the terrorist attacks which occurred are examples of internalized oppression in which the stereotypes that majority groups hold minorities to, such as Muslims, are then perpetuated through further acts of violence.

“Those who are wounded by what is published by newspapers should not respond in violent acts of revolution, much like we are seeing in this situation,” Lipson said. “With my longstanding passions with both activist and scholarly studies within racial politics, I am acutely aware of how sensitive, especially minorities, are. It is easy to say ‘people should have thicker skin’ but this is generally not the case.”

This isn’t the first instance that has given Charlie Hebdo a reputation for controversy. According to an article on cnn.com, in November 2011, the newspaper was due to release an issue with a cover cartoon of a bearded and turbaned cartoon figure of the Prophet Muhammad with a speech-bubble saying, “100 lashes if you’re not dying of laughter.” In September 2012, Char-

lie Hebdo published an issue containing a crude, naked cartoon of Muhammad being pushed in a wheelchair by what looked like an Orthodox Jew. Charlie Hebdo journalist Laurent Leger, according to an article on cnn.com, told BFM-TV in 2012 that the purpose of these cartoons were not to intended to provoke violence and anger, but to poke fun at extremists of ideas they did not agree with.

“I do not think this was a specifically targeted provocation toward any group, including Islam,” Chair of Digital Media & Journalism Department at SUNY New Paltz, Jerry Persaud, said. “This is a known satirical publication that uses parody and caricature as cartoon styles. Their cartoons are often provocative and at times even distasteful to some — even many.”

The rights of journalist, artists, authors and publishers, according to Persaud, are not “absolute rights,” as these rights in both the philosophical and legal context must have moral mediation with civic/civil responsibility. Persaud said that although violent uproars will exist with or without journalists and publications such as Charlie Hebdo, journalists and editors must exercise their judgment and authority in a similar way they exercise their craft and responsibility.

“There are many who see it as their right and duty to defend Islam against such an attack and/ or disrespect — perceived or otherwise. We know that instruments and institutions of communication-information-propaganda during a war is open to attack if it is serving as an offensive,” Persaud said. “Is it possible some in defense of Islam saw Charlie Hebdo as such and constructed/interpreted their views the way NATO/US does? After all, we have heard from several western leaders many a time that ‘this is a war on terror.’ Is all fair in love and war or in war and peace?”

New Paltz Ranked Among Best Value Colleges Again

By Melanie Zerah

Copy Editor | Zerahm1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

SUNY New Paltz has made Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s list of the “100 Best Values in Public Colleges” for 2015. This list recognizes academic quality and affordability. The ranking marks another consecutive year in which SUNY New Paltz has made the list — the first time being in 2000. New Paltz ranked number 60 on the annual list, among 10 other SUNYs. “The most important part of this is third party validation, somebody who has no particular interest other than putting us on an accurate list,” David Eaton, vice president of enrollment management said. “There is no vested interest for the magazine besides tell-

ing the truth and in that regard we appreciate being on the list.”

According to Eaton, the methodology behind being in the top 100 in a magazine like Kiplinger’s, which is usually from the perspective of a business person, is that the value proposition is the highest possible quality at the most reasonable price for the level of quality being received.

“I don’t think for most families in America anymore, public or private colleges are particularly affordable. Everyone has a little stretch,” Eaton said. “New York has held tuition at fairly modest levels in comparison to national average.”

For the students of colleges which have made this list, Eaton said it confirms that

they made the right financial choice in their decision to attend such a school while also increasing the value of their degrees because their college has been featured in a prestigous magazine.

According to Kiplinger magazine, the schools selected for the list are based upon their possession of the following attributes: competitiveness, graduation rates, academic support, student indebtedness and cost and financial aid.

“In New York our graduation rates as a university and retention rates are higher than the national norm,” Eaton said. “New Paltz happens to be in the top order of SUNYs, the quality is what draws in bright and motivated students.”

Thursday, January 29, 2015

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NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL

SCIENTIST OFFERS TO BUILD NUKE TARGETING NEW YORK A disgruntled, former Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist promised to build 40 nuclear weapons for Venezuela in 10 years and design a bomb targeted for New York City in exchange for “money and power,” according to secret FBI recordings released Wednesday.

MOM DENT LICE

WANTS AUTOPSY KILLED

INDEPENAFTER PODAUGHTER

The mother of a 17-year-old girl who was shot and killed by Denver police said Wednesday that she wants a second, independent autopsy because she doesn’t trust the official investigation into the death of her daughter.

NOBEL LAUREATE CHARLES TOWNES, LASER COCREATOR, DIES AT 99

Charles H. Townes, the Nobel Prizewinning physicist who helped create the laser that would revolutionize everything from medicine to manufacturing, has died. He was 99.

Townes had been in poor health before his death on the way to an Oakland hospital Tuesday, officials at the University of California, Berkeley, said.

ARKANSAS PANEL REJECTS REMOVING LEE FROM KING HOLIDAY A bid to end Arkansas’ practice of commemorating Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. on the same day was rejected by lawmakers Wednesday after opponents said the move would belittle Southern heritage.

Compiled from the AP Newswire

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The New Paltz Oracle

Rogers Reappointment Decision Fraught With Duplicity

By Anthony DeRosa

News Editor | N02385288@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Town Board voted not to reappoint Tim Rogers to the New Paltz Town Planning Board at their last meeting of 2014 on Dec. 18, a decision that has retroactively been justified on claims that Rogers’ position on the Town Planning Board and the New Paltz Central School District Board of Education resulted in a conflict of interest pertaining to the proposed location of a sewage treatment plant adjacent to New Paltz High School.

At the Dec. 18 meeting, New Paltz Town Councilman Jeff Logan stated that Rogers did not have the support of New Paltz Planning Board Chair Mike Calimano and that there had been “multiple complaints” from applicants about Rogers’ service on the planning board as reasons against his reappointment. A new member to the planning board was appointed later that night.

“It is my feeling that Tim’s lack of appointment and the subsequent appointment of a new member on the same night was done in a highly unprofessional manner,” New Paltz Town Councilman Dan Torres said. “The town rushed to appoint another candidate in Tim’s place. I abstained from this appointment as I was never given the candidate’s letter of interest or resume nor was I allowed the opportunity to interview the candidate. Apparently, the other board members had reviewed her application. When I voiced opposition because I had not received information about the candidate, [New Paltz Town] Supervisor Susan Zimet said, ‘Yes, you didn’t!’ My request to hold the vote [until] the following meeting to allow the full board the opportunity to perform due diligence was then denied.”

In a letter to the New Paltz Times written after the Dec. 18 meeting in regards to the reappointment decision, Torres stated that in speaking with Calimano, Logan’s assertion that the chair did not support Rogers’ reappointment to the planning board was “not an accurate representation of [Calimano’s] views.” At a subsequent town board meeting on Jan. 5, 2015, Logan produced email correspondences between himself and Calimano showing that Calimano had contradicted himself in his talk with Torres.

Calimano also emailed Rogers’ to clarify his position, stating that he had taken a neutral stance on the matter and had neither supported nor opposed Rogers’ reappointment. Later quoted in a New Paltz Times article, Calimano said, “it was Jeff who informed me that the Town Board was against the re-appointment of Tim. In fact, I asked Jeff if Tim would remain on the Board pending a new appointment only to find out that the Town Board had already appointed someone else.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Tim Rogers (left) and Dan Torres (right).

Regarding the claim that there had been multiple complaints about his service on the planning board, Rogers contacted planning board attorney George Lithco and learned that contrary to Logan’s statement, only two letters expressing concerns over Rogers’ input on the planning board had ever been filed – both from Park Point developer Wilmorite and both of which Rogers’ had known of previously.

“In response to your question, I am not aware of any letters to the planning board other than the two letters from Wilmorite you mentioned, which were copied directly to me by Tom Daniels, as counsel for Wilmorite/Park Point,” Lithco said to Rogers via email correspondence obtained by The New Paltz Oracle.

At the Jan. 5 town board meeting, in response to Torres’ letter to the Times, New Paltz Town Councilman Kevin Barry introduced a new argument defending the board’s decision not to reappoint Rogers — this time citing that Rogers was in conflict for having voted on a board of education resolution on Dec. 4, 2014, opposing the town’s

proposed location for a sewage treatment plant adjacent the high school while also holding a seat on the town planning board.

According to Barry, Rogers could have recused himself from the vote but because he “did not ask if recusal was prudent under the circumstances,” he placed his loyalty to the school district over his loyalty for the town. Barry’s opinion about the conflict was supported by Logan and Zimet.

Rogers, who served on the board of education and planning board simultaneously from May 2013 through December 2014, said “at no time [during my service] did anyone from the town board or attorneys representing the town board or planning board mention there was a potential conflict [serving on both boards].”

“The notion that Tim’s role on the school board posed a conflict is not based on legal opinion but a dubious argument asserted by Councilman Kevin Barry,” Torres said. “Anyone with knowledge of the gears of local government knows that planning and school board are some of the most demanding and pressure-packed of all the elective

Thursday, January 29, 2015

and volunteer boards. That Tim Rogers has volunteered on both these boards at the same time, with the high degree of engagement he has brought, is beyond admirable.”

The location of the proposed sewage plant adjoining the high school is land that Barry himself owns, according to New Paltz Board of Education member Steve Greenfield. The site, at the South Putt Corners Road, is specifically referenced in a Town of New Paltz Response to Feasibility Study dated Nov. 18 from town engineer Dave Clouser.

“My understanding is that board members should recuse themselves when they have an involved financial interest,” Rogers said. “Considering the Town Ethics Law and New York State code, Barry should be recusing himself from all votes, as well as, discussions related to any possible Town projects and his properties and not be sitting at the board table during any deliberations. Barry may not have been allowed to express an opinion or vote on my reappointment given the reason he stated about a school board and planning board conflict and a proposed sewage plant on his properties.”

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Zimet Takes Heat Following Racial Comment

By Kristen Warfield

Managing Editor | Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

New Paltz Town Supervisor Susan Zimet has sustained criticism following a recent Town Board meeting during which she made a comment comparing the lynching of an innocent African-American man wrongfully accused of rape to community opposition of plans to build a sewage treatment plant near the town’s high school. “[The property near the high school] is one of the four sites that has been reviewed thoroughly in order to understand where we go and what we do, and that’s what’s being presented, and that’s about as far as it’s gone,” Zimet said at the Jan. 15 meeting.

“It’s all a bunch of stuff on a piece of paper.

But yet all this [opposition], so be it. You know what? It’s like somebody saying that a black man raped that white kid and then they hung him from a tree, but he actually didn’t rape the kid.”

A video clip of Zimet’s comment was shared via social media, where many residents voiced their displeasure with her lack of racial sensitivity. Some who posted were merely looking for an apology from Zimet, while others demanded her resignation.

In an interview with Time Warner Cable News, Zimet stood by her comment, noting that it depicted how dangerous a mob mentality can be to the New Paltz community when it has not yet been finalized where the prospective sewage plant will be built.

Town Board Member Kevin Barry defended Zimet’s comment, according to The Daily Freeman, saying that it was used to illustrate how some members of the community had spoken out against board members about this issue during their public meeting.

“What you had is a bunch of people that got together, that had no self-control and exhibited quite a bit of anger toward the town board,” Barry said. “What she was trying to explain was this anger and this form of behavior that they’re exhibiting is intensifying and it’s reaching the point of a kind of mob mentality — the reference was really to mob mentality, it wasn’t to race.”

On the contrary, Deputy Town Mayor Rebecca Rotzler said she feels that Zimet’s comment was both racially charged and inaccurate in claiming that there is currently a mob mentality on an issue that citizens have the right to be concerned about.

“Using an analogy of that sort in this day and age is extremely insensitive,” Rotzler said. “It was used to stage that the town board members who are working on this plan are innocent and that they’re being accused of wanting to put a sewage treatment plant next to the high school — the accusation is true — they are working towards that.

What parent wants their child to be going to school next door to a sewage treatment plant? That’s not mob mentality — that is justified.”

Addressing the social media free-for-all

that had followed the meeting, New Paltz Board of Education member Steven Greenfield said he believes Zimet’s undoubtedly crass words have ultimately shifted the focus away from the real issue of concern: the possibility that the treatment plant may be built, funded by tax money, adjacent from the high school on property owned by member of the town board, Kevin Barry.

“Susan spoke extraordinarily gracelessly in comparing her situation of being confronted with dissent in the ordinary performance of her duties on the town board to racial terrorism and murder,” he said. “The intense focus on that one moment has drawn considerable attention away from both the core issue. She was planning to buy another town board member’s land adjoining the high school, with tax money, and build a sewage plant there.”

Barry’s ownership of a prospective site for the treatment plant to be built on is another reason why some New Paltz citizens are in opposition of it being built there, Rotzler said. “[Barry] should not be sitting at the table when his property is being discussed,” Rotzler said. “He can potentially gain, financially, a great deal of money – which falls on the backs of the taxpayers who are the people who are opposing the sewage treatment plant near the high school.”

At the same Jan. 15 meeting, Zimet addressed a problem concerning a lack of

information on the treatment plant being transferred from New Paltz Town Councilman Dan Torres to the board of education at their recent meeting. Zimet expressed that she felt that the lack of proper communication between the two entities was a source of “attacks” targeted at some town board members, noting that she personally has been under fire for “not caring about the kids, throwing the kids under the bus and giving the kids cancer.”

An outburst of audience members reacting to this statement was quelled by Zimet, who then propositioned one of them to “shut the hell up,” and also noted that, “at the end of the day, people will believe what they want to believe.”

Moving forward, Greenfield looks to Zimet and her fellow board members to follow Torres’ resolution in attesting that the town will not pursue plans that place a sewage plant next to any school in New Paltz.

“Zimet has to make a very unambiguously worded public statement retracting and apologizing for the horrific analogy she used [and] to promise that every single piece of information, no matter how trivial it appears, that comes to her desk will go to all town board members, every time,” Greenfield said.

Supervisor Zimet was unable to be reached for comment on this topic.

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

THE GUNK Th ursday, J an uary 29, 2015

Local Chili

Challenge Story on page 2B

PHOTO BY MAXWELL REIDE

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The New Paltz Oracle

oracle.newpaltz.edu

FEATURES Charming Chili Challenge

Seventh annual festival held at water street

PHOTOS BY MAXWELL REIDE

People weathering the cold to get some hot chili.

By Nathaniel Sheidlower

Copy Editor | Sheidlon1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Tasting different kinds of warm chili around a crackling campfire is a time honored tradition for New Paltz that is loved for the cozy and communal feeling it provides. This feeling was definitely present on a brisk winter day in the heart of the village.

The small square located at the end of the Water Street Market was filled with people, chatter and many aromas on Sunday, Jan. 25 during the seventh-annual local ingredient Chili Challenge.

Surrounding the square, and the campfire were 15 contestants, offering two-ounce samples of their unique cocktail of locally produced veggies, meats, beer, bourbon, spices and even chocolate.

Awards were given in five categories: home-cooked, vegetarian – which went to Matt Flusser – most creative, people’s choice and best professional – which went to Rock & Rye Tavern.

Regulars like Curbside Cuisine, coowned by Paul Schembri, were alongside first-timers like the New Paltz Fire Department, who won the best home-cooked chili award and local coffee shop and café, Moxie Cup, formerly known as Moxie Cupcake.

Schembri won the award for most creative chili for his use of malted milk balls in a recipe he created especially for this event, which included pork shoulder, chorizo, bacon, onions and apples. He said Curbside Cuisine, a food truck, serves dishes that fit well with the season so soups and chili are usually on their menu this time of year.

Moxie Cup owner since 2011, Josi Priole has attended this event every year since it began. This year she decided to enter Moxie Cup as a contestant. Their habanero butternut squash turkey chili combined local ingredients from The Huguenot CSA, the Newburgh Brewing Company, Evolutionary Organics, Winter

Sun Farm, Oliverea Schoolhouse Maple and Hudson Valley Fresh.

Moxie Cup came in second place for the people’s choice award behind The Huguenot, a restaurant that served lamb chili topped with an in-house sour cream and oyster cracker.

With all proceeds going to St. Joseph’s nondenominational food pantry, the challenge has gained popularity in recent years especially as local ingredients become easier to find, according to event coordinator Theresa Fall.

Fall said she has seen an increase in professional contestants and a decrease in home-cookers as all participants must abide by the state health code and professional kitchens are not always accessible to home-cookers.

“I love helping and giving to charities,” Priole said. “[This event] is another great way to use a business to help people and get good chili from it, too.”

Priole said Moxie Cup plans to feature

Thursday, January 29, 2015

signature dishes on a lunch menu starting Feb. 1. Topped with a scoop of fresh sour cream, a pinch of scallion and a petite heart-shaped corn tortilla spiced with Hungarian paprika, the turkey chili will be seen again on their new menu which will also include soups and possibly panini sandwiches.

The event was enjoyed by SUNY New Paltz students as well.

“This was a great event to get the community together and eat chili around a fire,” said Angela Mastandrea, secondyear psychology major.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, the challenge was postponed due to inclement weather and could not have gone better if planned as the sun shined down on the square all afternoon long.

“Overall it was a wildly successful event as most [contestants] are relieved that so many people came out for the snow date and even made extra donations because of it,” Fall said.

Features

The New Paltz Oracle

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TOP FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT IN NEW PALTZ THIS WEEK 1) A free seminar from the Biology Department at SUNY New Paltz entitled “Feeding 9 billion people: new insights from the U.S. on the role of individual choices.” This event is open to the public.

2) The Club and Involvement Fair on the university campus with over 100 different student clubs and organizations in attendence. This event is open to students.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Student Union Multi Purpose Room

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 4:30 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.

Coykendall Science Building Auditorium 3) The annual Study Abroad Fair where students can learn more about study abroad opportunities, overseas travel, passports and visas, financial aid and scholarships.

Open to any level of interest in study abroad.

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.

Student Union 100

4) Take advantage of our local movie theatre and its decent prices. Day showings are $5, and this week they are playing Black Or White, American Sniper, Paddington, Mortdecai and Into The Woods.

See the New Paltz Cinemas website for show times.

Movies in theatre Friday Jan. 30 — Thursday Feb. 5

5) Go enjoy the snow! With the new powder on the ground (and some more forecasted soon) it is the ideal time of year to go skiing, snowboarding or just plain old sledding. Rentals for these equipment can be found locally at Rock & Snow, with poles, boots and skis available to rent at $18.

Fresh Paltz

Gathered by Jennifer Newman

FRESH PALTZ’s mission is to document what some stylish peopleSeptember 15, 2011 Thursday, are wearing around the campus of SUNY New Paltz. #FreshPaltz Name: Katie Weiskotten Year: Fourth-year

Major: Sociology Hometown: Schenectady

Katie is wearing a mix of different patterns with basic colors to create a unique look. She describes her style as cozy and flowy. “I’m more about comfort right now than looking good because it’s ridiculously cold outside.” Her multi-patterned pants provide her with an extra layer of protection from the cold, over another layer of leggings. She is wearing her favorite floral top under a large beige sweater that her mom gave her, accentuated by LL Bean boots. Katie says she usually goes to Salvation Army or Goodwill for good finds and won’t usually spend more than $15 on a shirt. This thrifty attitude makes her our freshest find of the week!

By Jennifer Newman, Jnewman46@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE OF “FRESH PALTZ?”

CHECK OUT oracle.newpaltz.edu TO SEE MORE OF WHAT NEW PALTZ IS WEARING! Thursday, January 29, 2015

Katie weiskotten

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Features

The New Paltz Oracle

See You On The Flip Side NEW B-SIDE GRILL TO OPEN ON MAIN STREET IN FEBRUARY

By Amanda Copkov Copy Editor | Copkova1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

With the closing of Noshi’s Coney Island last fall semester comes a brand new restaurant to fill its retired shoes: the BSide Grill.

Having reconstructed the Main Street site from the inside-out since late November, co-owners Lou Milano and George Vlamis are hoping to have their place up and running by early to mid February.

“If you’re gonna do it, you gotta do it,” Milano said. “We wanted to get every problem out of the way.”

Vlamis and Milano’s expectations are to not only appeal to the college students who inhabit the village but also to attract the eyes and taste buds of local families.

“We want to try to cater to the college and at the same time be accepted by the local people,” Milano said. “That’s the goal.”

The co-owners plan to have their restaurant open early morning hours for breakfast while also staying open late night for the college and bar crowds.

“You need a place to meet your friends before and you need a place to meet your friends afterwards, ‘cause you don’t know where they might end up,” Milano said.

“They might be at P&G’s; they might be at Snug’s; but everyone can say, ‘I’ll meet you at The B-Side: 4 o’clock.’”

Designed to be a “1950’s meets the Rock N’ Roll era” type joint, the grill will have a retro appeal: blue cushioned seats with a white stripe, along with walls featuring murals of famous rock artists such as Pat Benetar and The Beastie Boys.

Milano and Vlamis plan to focus their menu on breakfast, burgers and ice cream, while also keeping their love for music in mind.

All breakfast options will be served

all day and night. The menu will include pancakes and waffles with many different toppings including fruit and ice cream, along with burger varieties such as salmon, pulled pork, grilled chicken, beef and vegetarian.

“We’re trying to come up with the rest of our vegetarian menu,” Milano said.

“You have to here.”

Having spoken with the previous owner about it, the B-Side Grill plans to use the same burger blend as Noshi’s for all of their tasteful and creative burgers.

Milano and Vlamis have had restaurant experience prior to owning the BSide Grill. Having met in middle school, these childhood friends started from the bottom with ice cream trucks and later moved on to owning restaurants of their own.

Milano has owned Babba Louie’s, a similar restaurant to that of the B-Side Grill in Modena, New York, for 11 years.

Vlamis owned a pizzeria in Ticonderoga, New York as well as a restaurant called the Gold Fox, which closed in Gardiner last year.

Their ice cream expertise is what made them decide to incorporate it as one of their highly-valued menu items. Going along with their specialty burgers and hot dogs, they will also have specialty sundaes — one of which will be called the Porky Pig, made with bacon, wet walnuts, caramel and vanilla ice cream.

Milano and Vlamis also have intentions to build a service window at the front of the food joint.

“We want people to come after hours and be able to get something inexpensive,” Milano said.

Options like milkshakes, ice cream cones and specialty hot dogs are food items that the co-owners expect to be latenight hits, just like they were at Noshi’s.

Front of B-Side Diner & Ice Cream while renovations are underway.

“It can be quick and casual, instead of having to sit down like at P&G’s,” said Mackenzie Quick, fourth-year public relations student at SUNY New Paltz and cousin of Milano.

Another factor of the B-Side Grill the owners hope will appeal to everyone is on-call delivery — especially to students living on the New Paltz campus.

Though Milano was hesitant to start this restaurant endeavor with Vlamis, a lightbulb went off in his head that made him realize that they “could really make this place work,” and the business to make

PHOTO BY MAXWELL REIDE

it work was right there on Main Street.

“The entertainment is here,” Milano said. “There is every walk of life. You just have to open the door and look around.”

The B-Side Grill intends to appeal to these different varieties of life who walk along New Paltz’s Main Street, and that’s what the “B-side” is all about: the opposite side of a record where all of the cool bonus tracks are, according to Milano.

“George said to me, ‘We’re gonna open up this restaurant. I’m gonna open it with or without you.’ And I didn’t want to do it without him,” Milano said.

Do You Want to Write For Features?

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

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ARTS ENTERTAINMENT & “Girls” comes to New Paltz oracle.newpaltz.edu

The New Paltz Oracle

THE HIT HBO SHOW FILMS SCENES ON THE CAMPUS

By Amya Pinka

Copy Editor | Pinkaa1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

This past summer, SUNY New Paltz’s campus was transformed into a television set.

The HBO hit series “Girls” traveled to New Paltz to film scenes on campus, which were featured in their second episode of season four, titled “Triggering,” which aired on Sunday, Jan. 18.

Not only did filming take place on campus, but faculty, students and alumni were featured in the episode as extras.

SUNY New Paltz became involved with “Girls” in June when the Media Relations Office was contacted by a location scout from HBO to film on campus, said Media Relations manager at SUNY New Paltz, Melissa Kaczmarek.

“Last summer’s filming of an episode of ‘Girls’ was an exciting event for our campus,” Kaczmarek said. “The college accommodated this request because of the benefits it brought to our community, including the experiential learning opportunities for our students. Several dozen New Paltz students and staff had the unique experience as extras and learned first-hand what it takes to execute a fullscale television production.”

According to an article on the New Paltz Times’ website by Brandon Missig, over 40 SUNY New Paltz students were featured in this episode. The campus was used in order to resemble Iowa University, which is where Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) attends graduate school.

Missig reported that Regina Heyman, the unit production manager for “Girls,” said that scouts found that some of Iowa University’s campus looked similar to SUNY New Paltz’s campus. Since it is easier to bus a crew from Long Island City to New Paltz than to Iowa, they decided to incorporate New Paltz’s campus.

In the episode, students are seen walking, socializing and skateboarding as the sun shines on Old Main Quad. At the very end of the episode, Hannah (Dunham) and Elijah (Andrew Rannells) are seen walking through the calm and peace-

Logo for HBO’s “Girls.”

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

A scene from “Girls” featuring Old Main Quad.

Photo Courtesy of HBO

A scene from “Girls” featuring Old Main Quad.

Photo Courtesy of HBO

Thursday, January 29, 2015

ful quad.

Faculty and students were very enthusiastic when recalling this once-ina-lifetime experience they had just six months ago.

SUNY New Paltz Events Coordinator Brendan O’Brien, recalled his experience as an extra in the episode, dressed in an Iowa sweatshirt on the Old Main Quad.

“It was a really cool experience. I had never participated in something like that before so it was interesting to see how a television show is made,” O’Brien said.

“I know the students were appreciative of the opportunity. A few of us got to meet Lena Dunham and she was very kind. She took a group photo with us at the end of filming.”

O’Brien’s job was to act like he was heading to class. He said they had to do this about three times before the director, Dunham, was satisfied.

Chris Marchitelli, a fourth-year digital media programming and management major, had a lot of fun but had no idea what to expect during his first time being an extra on a television show.

“I felt like I got to experience something completely new,” Marchitelli said.

“I always wanted to see what production was like on such a large-scale show.”

According to Marchitelli, the extras saw a lot of the award-winning director/ actor Dunham. Although he was not formally introduced to Dunham, she would say, “Hey, how’s it going?” or “Hey, cuties!”

Marchitelli was surprised by the amount of micro-managing that goes into production.

“We filmed, at most, maybe a minute of what would end up airing on the show,” he said. “Just thinking about the amount of work that went into so little actual screen time was mind-boggling.”

A huge fan of the show, fifth-year childhood education major, Tamara Litt, was so excited to experience her first time as an extra on one of her favorite shows.

“It was such a unique opportunity,” Litt said. “I have never had the chance to do anything like this before.”

Arts & Entertainment

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Dragon Age Reigns Supreme GAME FANATIC RUSSELL HARTMAN PICKS HIS TOP GAMES OF 2014 game literally has it all. From character depth, to the fighting mechanics, to the massive open world areas, amazing soundtrack and enough quests that at times it will seem mindboggling. If you enjoy video games, buy this game. You will not regret it.

By Russell Hartman

A&E Editor | Rhartman@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

2014 was an… interesting year for gaming. Many large titles were released that failed to live up to expectations and ultimately fell flat with many gamers.

There were many bright spots throughout the year though. Sony and Microsoft had exclusives that delivered, EA and Bioware teamed up to create the greatest role-playing game in gaming history and Nintendo gave their fans some great Wii U and 3DS games to play.

you can have sitting around a TV with your friends on any given night. The controls are easy to pick up, yet hard to master which makes the game that much more challenging. There are characters for every play style; if you want a big, heavy hitter try out Bowser or Ike. If you want a speedy character who is fast paced and strikes quick try someone like Sonic or Sheik. The game is completely accessible to newcomers to the series and veterans will feel right at home.

This game is honestly just plain fun. If you or a friend own a Wii U, go play some Smash Bros. You won’t regret it.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

inFamous: Second Son (PS4)

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One)

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4, XB One, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) This game is far and away 2014’s game of the year. No game came close to the quality of its gameplay, graphics and storyline. It has one of the most compelling storylines of any game over the past few years and within a few short minutes of hitting the start button and creating your character, the player is quickly immersed in the lands of Ferelden and Orlais and the power struggle of demon armies, templars, mages and all the creatures and humans in between.

In the game, you play as a character known as the “Inquisitor” who must rally an army in order to stop demons from invading Ferelden and Orlais. This

When I popped this game into my Xbox One I honestly had no idea what I was in store for. Insomniac games have been known to create great games, so I knew the quality would be great but I wasn't expecting it to give me some of the best enjoyment I’ve ever had when playing a video game. The game’s setting is a bright, deadly and colorful city known as Sunset City. Due to a mutated energy drink, the population of Sunset City gets turned into mutants, known as “OD.” It’s your job to help the survivors of Sunset City, take down the energy drink company Fizzco and try to find a way to escape. From exotic guns, colorful locals, unique locations and overall hilarity, Sunset Overdrive delivers. It was the best Xbox One exclusive to be released in 2014 and I look forward to a sequel, if and when it is announced.

This was the PS4’s best exclusive of the year. inFamous: Second Son builds upon the first two games of the inFamous series and delivers a very satisfying adventure. The game takes place in Seattle, Washington and you play as a “conduit” (human with special powers) named Delsin Rowe. As Rowe, you explore the city and attempt to defeat the Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia forces of the D.U.P. (Department of Uni- fied Protection) with the help of some of conduits you meet along the way. The Pokémon Omega Ruby/Pokestory is very compelling, the characters are all interesting in their own ways and mon Alpha Sapphire (3DS) the gameplay is very smooth. Second One of the best Pokémon games Son also has some of the greatest visuals ever released. It follows the basic I’ve ever seen in a video game. This Pokémon formula that the games in the game was highly hyped and was one of the few games to come out this year that series follow but it also adds interesting new features and a post game lived up to its lofty expectations. If you storyline know as the Delta episode. In own a PS4, make sure you play inFaaddition to adding more mega evolumous: Second Son. tions to the Pokémon, the game features almost every legendary pokemon Super Smash Bros. Wii U (Wii U) to ever exist. Last semester we had a full on review for this game in the Nintendo released some great Oracle so if you want a more in depth games in 2014 but this game was easily review, check it out. This was easily their best. Super Smash Bros. Wii U the best game released on Nintendo’s is one of best fighting games I’ve ever 3DS in 2014. played and it is some of the most fun

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

The New Paltz Oracle

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There’s Nintendo ... Then There’s Everything Else GAME ENTHUSIAST KARL EVERS-HILLSTROM PICKS HIS TOP GAMES OF 2014

By Karl Evers-Hillstrom

Copy Editor | Kevershillstrom@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

2014 was a strange year for gamers.

It was supposed to be the greatest year of gaming ever, with massive titles being introduced such as Destiny, Watch Dogs and Titanfall. Unfortunately, many of the year’s biggest titles failed to live up to the hype.

Many gamers were left feeling disappointed by the lacking performance and features of many of the year’s biggest titles. Publishers such as Ubisoft, EA and Activision released games that were either buggy or incomplete, and asked gamers to buy extra downloadable content before fixing obvious problems.

However, one publisher did deliver: Nintendo. Many of the best Nintendo titles I have ever played were released this year and weren’t stricken with bugs and greedy downloadable content policies. Here are my five favorite games released in 2014.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Super Smash Bros Wii U (Wii U) There’s not much else I can say about this game I haven’t already said.

This was the best game of 2014 and capped off an amazing year for the Wii U. It is extraordinarily diverse, offering a variety of gameplay experiences for any kind of gamer to enjoy. There was not a single game released this year that could match its multiplayer experience, polish and replay value.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Bravely Default (3DS) Although it was released in 2012 in Japan, Bravely Default took until February of 2014 to finally release in the US. An old-school RPG, Bravely Default sets the player in a fantasy world with a party of four characters who endure an epic adventure. It implements new features to keep the gameplay fresh. This includes an amazing turn-based battle system that allows the player to spend or save a character’s turn by going into brave or default modes, respectively.

Bravely Default also employs a class system where the player can change a character’s job any time they want.

Tired of your character being a white mage and want to turn them into a vampire? Go ahead! You are allowed to so at any time. The game’s story and characters are what really push it over the top, I found myself immersed in its world.

Bravely Default brings back classic RPG gameplay, and manages to make it exciting and varied, it is the best handheld game I played all year.

Bayonetta 2 (Wii U) Bayonetta 2 taught us that a storydriven game doesn’t need a good story to be amazing. It features an obnoxiously bad story, with cutscenes that include poor voice acting and writing. This would be a problem for most games, but Bayonetta 2’s action-packed gameplay more than makes up for its narrative shortcomings. The main character in the series, Bayonetta is a witch who can basically do anything and has unlimited destructive capability. This means that action sequences are outrageously massive and ridiculous. The player never feels intimidated by the games’ enormous enemies because Bayonetta 2 controls perfectly. The total control granted to the player allows for smooth gameplay and stunning combos.

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN(PS3, PS4) Yes, it has a very strange title, and yes, it is one of my favorite games of the year. A traditional 2D competitive fighter, Xrd features over-the-top aggressive gameplay and intense action that is relatively easy to get into. The only thing holding Xrd back is its roster. With only 15 playable characters and two purchasable as DLC (one of which was free for a limited time), Xrd is not as diverse as other fighters such as Street Fighter IV or Mortal Kombat. This never became a major issue for me however; as the game’s technical ceiling and depth ensured I never got bored. The playable characters are all very different, and all take some time to learn. My favorite part of the game is its aggressive nature.

Camping the opponent is not an effective strategy, as your character will lose strength if you do not land hits on your opponent. It is a fighting game where you are actually rewarded for attempting to fight your opponent, something I greatly enjoyed.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) Probably the best entry in the Mario Kart series, Mario Kart 8 looks and drives great, and finally delivers a game balance that is fun for everyone playing.

Old iterations of the series bothered me because the item system gave too much strength to the players losing the race. In Mario Kart Wii, the player in last place had about the same chances of winning as the player in first, as a single bullet bill could land them in first place. This doesn’t happen in Mario Kart 8. Items help struggling players stay in the race but don’t grant them victory. Mario Kart 8’s gameplay is much improved from that of past entries. It controls very well, is easy to understand and also offers depth for players looking to race for more than just fun. Mario Kart 8 features great online play in addition to stellar local multiplayer. It also allows players to use any Wii or Wii U controller, meaning nobody will ever be left out because I didn’t feel like buying overpriced next-gen controllers. Mario Kart 8 was extremely hyped and did not disappoint, delivering a racing experience for all to enjoy.

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oracle.newpaltz.edu

THE DEEP END

The New Paltz Oracle

THIS WEEK IN

THE DEEP END JONATHAN NOBILE

Major: Visual Arts Year: Fourth

Inspiration: ███████ “█████████████████████████████████████████████████ █████████████████████████████████████████████████ █████████████████████████████████████████████████ ████████”

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Nobile | Captioning by Maxwell Reide

The New Paltz Oracle

Editorial

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9

Treating The Tension

CARTOON BY MIKE SHEINKOPF

The property next to New Paltz High School is said to be only one of the possible locations for a new sewage treatment facility and is causing concern from some members of the community as well as the New Paltz School Board. The proposal is creating a rift between the town board – the proposers of the creation of this facility – and others who feel the town board’s true intentions were not clear.

We at The New Paltz Oracle believe every student here is an integral part of the New Paltz community. As such, we encourage students to be aware of what is occurring outside of the campus sphere.

Both a sewage system and the boom of new businesses it is meant to support would impact the dynamic of the town.

We can be both negatively or positively impacted, as any member of the community would be, by this pending infrastruc-

ture’s location and what it means for the town.

But to obtain information, information must be obtainable. Transparency of information, even from the most infant stages, is in the best interest of everyone involved. Although opposition may be brought on early from those outside looking in, planning in a glass house will allow the community to see what is occurring without having to throw stones later on down the line.

Although there have been efforts to maintain transparency throughout this planning period, we do not believe that it has been sufficient enough. We understand that the public town board meetings are held in order to discuss issues such as this – but the fierceness and unprofessionalism displayed at these meetings needs to be alleviated as soon as possible.

Not being transparent regarding this issue has created an atmosphere of paranoia and secrecy, which has taken a greater precedent than the issue itself, even when no secrets or alternative motives may be happening. This leads to distain and anger from those who are kept in the dark, which is ultimately unproductive and distracting.

In these times, when a decision is to be made that can affect the community with such force, it is essential that the key players in the community and the citizens themselves do not face off against one another, but create a forum of opinion. Respect is key, for spite is a powerful emotion that can spin well meaning intentions out of control and cause one to lose sight of what is most beneficial.

As of now, the sewage treatment plant’s build site is yet to be determined.

As conflict hopefully subsides and the

Thursday, January 29, 2015

town board bands together to face the planning process as one peaceful entity, we hope that they will continue to study the possible impacts that a sewage plant will bring to the site and area surrounding. If it is decided that the site near New Paltz High School is the most sufficient choice, then we hope that the safety of the students is of upmost confidence to not be affected before any ground is broken.

Editorials represent the views of the majority of the editorial board.

Columns, op-eds and letters, excluding editorials, are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The New Paltz Oracle, its staff members, the campus and university or the Town or Village of New Paltz.

10 oracle.newpaltz.edu

KRISTEN WARFIELD Managing Editor

Warfielk1@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Over winter break, I found myself doing a whole lot of nothing other than binge-watching home improvement shows – and aside from learning about placing bathroom tile and house buying, I felt myself wandering a bit too close to my childhood dream of buying a 20room princess mansion than I wanted to.

Fast forward a few days into this nonsense and I soon discovered an amazing show that proved that living large isn’t exclusively for the rich after all.

“Tiny House Nation” explores the world of condensing the functionality of a full-sized home into 600 square-feet or less. Externally, most would drive right by these hidden gems assuming that they are a backyard shed – but they are so much more wondrous than that. Although they may appear cramped to some, most tiny homes come packed with stunning features that both utilize every square foot to their true potential and cut down living costs exponentially.

I was originally drawn to the idea of living in a tiny house because I have always loved things that are miniature versions of larger ones. Seeing the tiny gabled roofs and miniature porches of these tiny homes reminded me so much of the full-sized wooden playhouse that my had dad built for my sister and I, completely by hand, in the backyard of our childhood home. The thought of actually living in a tiny home was just trivial to me at first being that my closet and dresser at home are practically bursting at the seams with junk and clothes already – but the more I

OPINION

COLUMN Living With Less thought about it, the more sense it made.

Not only would going tiny force me to eventually de-clutter myself, but also save a lot of money in the long run, too.

According to HGTV.com, the tiny home movement ignited from the economic crisis of the past decade and caused homeowners to revert to a simpler lifestyle that easily reconnects them with friends, family and nature. Some of these homes can cost less than most of today’s luxury SUVs, which is advantageous for those looking to avoid the commitment and stress of having a mortgage.

In America it is easy to see that overindulging in immaculate homes is definitely a trend. While there is a great deal of accomplishment present when we work for the things that we want, sometimes it is all too easy to lose sight of modesty in the process. Far too often, people fill the void of healthy relationships among friends or family with belongings instead. To me, that isn’t what being happy is about at all. Although the thought of downsizing seems enough to induce anxiety in those who have lived in moderately-sized homes their whole lives, I think that it would benefit everyone to take on that challenge of going tiny.

One of the biggest concerns of owning a tiny home is apparent: what if the home is just too cramped? The solution to this concern is all in the design plan.

Most come equipped with full-sized kitchens, hidden storage spaces (such as drawers built into stairs) and high ceil-

ings that make them look and feel much more spacious on the inside. These high ceilings also allow homeowners to loft their bedroom and have it double as an office or music room whenever the bed is folded up into the wall during the day.

Repurposing space like this is one factor that enables tiny homes to be so costeffective.

Aside from the functionality that the design of these tiny homes brings, they also allow room to save money on electricity, heating costs and furniture expenses. The methodology is simple : the smaller the space you have, the less room you have to fill with heat and furniture. Being that most of these tiny houses are specially-designed for their owners, they can be as minimal or extravagant as desired. On the higher end of the building budget spectrum, some emulate miniature log cabins, modern condos and even victorian-style estates. Though the homes may only measure in at a mere 250 square-feet, there are some amazing ones out there with some serious curb appeal.

If I had the opportunity to live in one of these homes, I would absolutely take advantage of it. Before learning about the tiny home trend, it was easy for me to think that I would be financially strapped for an eternity if I ever wanted to buy my own home. Now that I have seen a few episodes of “Tiny House Nation” and have done a bit of sleuthing on the Internet pertaining to the trend, it completely seems like an amazing and genuinely

The New Paltz Oracle

frugal possibility to pursue one day when the time is right.

If you’re not quite sure about simplifying your way of living to go tiny, look around for a tiny home in a destination of your liking to vacation in to get a sense for it. Imagine being able to step out of your tiny home and straight onto the beach in the mornings, or sitting around a fire behind your personal cabin in complete seclusion from the traffic, lights and sound of a big town or city. A tranquil, stress-free area can do a lot for the psyche.

Sometimes all we need is a peaceful break and a smaller house to bring family and friends together and recognize that simplicity is key to being happy. The less that we have in terms of unnecessary belongings, the more opportunity we have to appreciate the beauty of those who surround us. Even the smallest of homes can be a gem in the grand scheme of life, nurturing opportunity to appreciate a simpler living style with less complication and expenses. This teaches us not only that big is not always better, but also that living smaller is truly living smarter.

Kristen is a second-year journalism major who plans to live happily ever after in a miniature cottage on the countryside. To complement her tiny farmhouse, she is also looking into inheriting a small herd of pygmy goats or dwarf potbellied pigs.

If you can help, her email is in the bio.

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

The New Paltz Oracle

SPORTS

SPORTS

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The New Paltz Oracle

WEEKEND ThTh e New e NewPaltz PaltzOracle Oracle Men’s volleyball opened up their season with two wins last weekend.

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Men’s volleyball team opened up their season with a pair of wins last weekend in Owings Mills, Maryland.

On Saturday, Jan. 24 the Hawks played matches against two preseason nationallyranked programs in the Stevenson Tournament. They defeated both Rutgers-Newark and host No. 14 Stevenson University in four sets.

The Hawks won their first match of the day against Rutgers-Newark 3-1 (20-25, 2520, 25-17, 25-20).

Hawks outside hitter, first-year Anthony Bonilla, recorded a match-high 16 kills while hitting .458 and chipping in seven digs. Third-year co-Captain Christian Smith tallied a match-high 35 assists to contribute to the Hawks’ first win of the season.

Later in the day, the Hawks defeated Stevenson University 3-1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 25-17).

Hawks third-year middle blocker Christopher Husmann recorded a matchhigh 17 kills with a hitting percentage of .636. Fourth-year setter John Lutjen tallied 24 assists, a team-high for the match, while

WINS

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUNIATA SPORTS INFORMATION

third-year co-Captain Kevin Nardone led the Hawks in digs in both matches, tallying 23 in total on the day.

Last season, the Hawks were crowned United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Champions for the first time in team history.

They then advanced to the 2014 NCAA Div. III Tournament and were defeated by No. 3 Juniata College in the semifinals.

The Hawks were listed No. 4 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-15 Preseason Poll and were predicted to finish second in the 2015 UVC Preseason Coaches Poll. With both wins, the Hawks remain ranked at No. 4 in the AVCA Division III Men’s Coaches Top 15 Week 1 Poll released on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Many accolades were awarded to members of the Hawks last season, including Head Coach Radu Petrus, who was titled AVCA National Div. III Coach of the Year, as well as the CaptainU College Coach of the Year for Div. III. Four returning starters are back on the roster for the 2015 campaign, including two preseason All-Americans, second-year middle blocker Steven Woessner and Smith.

Smith was elected AVCA First-Team All-

America and First-Team All-UVC last season. Last season, Woessner was elected AVCA Second-Team All-America, AVCA Division III Newcomer of the Year, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Men’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year, UVC Co-Rookie of the Year and MVP of the UVC Tournament.

Woessner finished last season ranked in the top-20 of the NCAA with a .358 attack percentage and 50 aces en route to being named the 2014 AVCA Newcomer of the Year. Smith led the NCAA with 12.34 assists per set last season and earned FirstTeam All-American honors.

Smith said the team did a good job of being persistent and battling back strong during both matches last weekend.

“Ultimately, I was really pleased to come away with two victories on opening weekend,” he said.

Losing four Hawks from last year’s roster – libero Victor Tuminelli, outside hitter Brian Smith and middle blocker Brian O’Connor to graduation and two-time AVCA First-Team All-American outside hitter Tim Ferriter to transfer – the Hawks look to repeat last season’s performance

Thursday, January 29, 2015

and achieve their ultimate goal: an NCAA Championship.

“The veteran players know the way to get to the top,” Petrus said. “Hopefully we can do it again.”

There are 20 members on the Hawks roster this season, including seven new firstyear additions.

“This year the team seems to be closer together on and off the court and losing Tim and Brian will be difficult to overcome, but we’ve done a great job thus far,” Husmann said. “We have the same mindset this year as we did last year so we don’t plan on changing much.”

Petrus said the addition of seven freshmen will benefit the team because they will get better each day and contribute to the team’s depth.

“They did well this past weekend, but hopefully they will be better,” he said. “We have to work, but we have a chance to be better. The key players who know the game help the freshmen to give them some ideas and encouragement. They are good.”

With a record of 2-0, the Hawks travel to New York City to take on New York University Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.

Sports

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The New Paltz Oracle

Women’s Basketball Remains Positive

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THERESA MATTIA

Women’s basketball split a pair of SUNYAC matchups last weekend.

By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

Since returning from the break with a 58-49 loss against SUNY Cortland on Tuesday Jan. 6, the Women’s basketball team started a four-game win streak prior to their matchup against SUNY Fredonia last Friday, Jan. 23.

Their four-game win streak was extended to five games with a 73-67 victory over SUNY Fredonia. Head Coach Jamie Seward credits his veterans for setting a spark in the team after the loss against Cortland.

“The loss against Cortland got us going,” he said. “We felt we weren’t attacking and playing with that aggressive edge we desired, so some of the older players challenged their younger teammates to get the competitive juices flowing more on a day-to-day basis.”

The team was led against Fredonia by second-year guard/forward Kit Small, who scored a team-high 20 points.

Fourth-year co-Captain Shannan Walker was right behind her with 19 points.

The Hawks trailed by a score of 3630 at halftime but outscored Fredonia 43-31 in the second half to capture the victory.

The game was tied at 62-62 with 5:36 left on the clock. Walker gave the Hawks the lead with a jumper at 3:36 to make it 64-62. The Fredonia Blue Devils pulled within one, but the Hawks did not relinquish the lead.

The team’s five-game win streak came to an end the following day, as the Hawks suffered a gut-wrenching 69-68 loss against Buffalo State. The Hawks trailed by 18 at a point in the second half, but battled back to take a 68-67 lead with

27 seconds remaining in the game. The Buffalo State Bengals scored a layup with eight seconds left in the game to secure a 69-68 lead and ensure the victory.

Small once again led the team with 20 points, and third-year co-Captain Christine Rivera was second on the team with 14 points off the bench. Third-year co-Captain Goldie Harrison and secondyear forward Courtney Irby chipped in with 10 points each. Despite the tough loss, Coach Seward remained positive.

“To get beat by one with six seconds left is a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “That being said, we have a lot of basketball left to play and with such a young team, we still have so much room for improvement. The key will be if we can continue to get better over the next few weeks.”

The team currently holds a 9-6 over-

Thursday, January 29, 2015

all record and 5-3 record in SUNYAC play. They are on pace for an improved record this season with a 6-19 finish last season. Coach Seward credits the increase in roster depth that has made the team much more successful this season.

“With only 10 players last year, it was difficult to create the type of competitive environment we like to have,” he said. “Additionally, we have the ability to play 10-12 players every night and not lose anything in doing so. This is evident by the fact that we have only three players averaging over 20 minutes per game, and none playing over 30.”

The team’s next game will take place on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. against SUNY Oswego. It will be the start of a five-game homestand that will conclude on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. against SUNY Plattsburgh.

SPORTS

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Men’s Basketball Splits SUNYAC Matchups

By Melissa Kramer

Sports Editor | Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

’

We are going to take it one game at a time and hopefully come out with five wins over the home stretch.

KEVIN ROACH

Plattsburgh.

Roach said the goal stays the same every day the team is on the court. He said they cannot overlook teams during the homestand, but need to focus just on the task that day. The goal stays the same every day they are on the court: win the day.

“We are going to take it one game at a time and hopefully come out with five wins over the home stretch,” he said.

“After splitting this weekend, we could not be in a better situation than we are now. A five-game home stretch is perfect for us. We are going to have a tough week of practice to prepare but we are excited to just get back out on the court and show the conference we are a real contender this year.”

With a home record of 3-1 this season, the Hawks are looking forward to playing in front of their home court for the first time since Thursday, Jan. 15.

Roach said the team is looking forward to having the support of the Hawks Nest throughout the homestand.

“They are our sixth man,” he said.

PHOTO BY ROBIN WEINSTEIN

The Men’s basketball team split a pair of road games against SUNYAC opponents last weekend.

On Friday, Jan. 23, the Hawks defeated the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils 65-51.

Bench scoring proved to be a key factor for the Hawks in the matchup, receiving 25 points from the reserves.

Fourth-year co-Captain Taylor Sowah recorded his sixth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Fellow fourth-year co-Captain R.J. Rosa scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists. He contributed on defense as well, registering three steals.

New Paltz finished the game with a 34.3 shooting percentage (23-of-67) from the floor.

The following day, the Hawks fell to the Buffalo State Bengals 95-89.

The Hawks shot 50 percent (31of-62) from the floor on the game and shot 74.1 percent (20-of-27) from the free-throw line. Twenty Hawk turnovers turned into 20 Bengal points. Rebounds also proved to be a difference maker in the game as the Bengals had a 45-36 advantage.

Rosa scored a team-high 24 points.

Three other Hawks notched double figures that afternoon including Sowah, third-year co-Captain Kevin Roach and second-year guard Eric Regenbogen who scored 16 points in 24 minutes after coming off the bench.

The Hawks continue their regular season schedule with only SUNYAC games remaining.

Head Coach Mike Rejniak said to prepare, the team is taking it one step at a time and one conference opponent at a time. He said the team will continue to focus and hone in on their strengths and make adjustments. He said that the Hawks have been playing solid basketball on the defensive end and accredits that and depth to the team’s winning stride and contention to win games.

“It allows us to really just focus on what’s important, which is the SUNYAC playoff picture which we’re very well in the hunt with, so that’s great,” he said.

“When it comes to games, I’m not really

worried about foul trouble which is nice so that’s good for us.”

The Hawks return home to play a five-game homestand beginning with SUNY Oswego, the current top seed in the conference, on Friday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hawk Center.

With an overall record of 7-8, and 5-3 record in SUNYAC play, the Hawks are currently in fourth place in the SUNYAC standings. The top six teams make the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Other opponents during the homestand include SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Potsdam and SUNY

PHOTO BY LIZZIE NIMETZ The Men’s basketball team looks to gain ground in SUNYAC standings.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

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Sports

The New Paltz Oracle

Victorious Weekend For Hawks Swimmers

By Michael Rosen

Copy Editor | Rosenm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The Men’s and Women’s swimming teams each had a very successful weekend. On Friday, Jan. 23, each team faced Mount Saint Mary College, and both were victorious. The Men’s team won by a score of 127-69, while the Women’s team took the win by a 115-87 margin.

The Men’s team was led by fourth-year coCaptain Jack Spader and first-year Chad Plante, who each won two individual events. Spader was victorious in the 200 yard freestyle (1:53.48) and the 200 yard backstroke (2:12.05), while Plante took home first place in the 400 yard individual medley (4:49.15) and the 200 yard breaststroke (2:29.00).

On the women’s side, first-year Molly McCulloch led the team, earning the gold in the 50 yard freestyle (25.76) and the 100 yard freestyle (56.62). She was named SUNYAC Female Swimmer of the Week for the period ending Sunday, Jan. 25.

Both teams were once again victorious the next day, as each squad defeated SUNYAC opponent SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Jan. 24. The Women’s team fought for a 142-120 win, while the Men’s team squeaked out a 138-124 victory.

The Women’s team was again led by McCulloch, who finished in at 1:03.52 in the 100 yard backstroke and also set a new pool record in the 100 yard butterfly (58.33). The previous record of 59.45 was set by Carly Marshall in 2013.

Other standouts for the team included thirdyear Cassidy Griger, who earned first in the 200 yard freestyle (2:01.08) and the 100 yard freestyle (56.20). Griger also placed second in the 500 yard freestyle (5:26.67).

Fourth-year co-Captain Samantha Granan also won an individual event, as she claimed victory in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:09.96).

With the win, the team extended their undefeated record to 6-0. Fourth-year Kat Buyes credits the team’s success on their ability to compete in a wide range of events.

“We have a great depth of talent throughout the team, and while we lost some top swimmers last year we hold some of the most depth in all the events in the conference,” Buyes said. “Our team is able to come together and work hard in practice and that shows every time we race in a meet.”

Head Coach Scott Whitbeck agreed.

“I believe this is the deepest and most talented team I’ve ever had,” he said. “Our depth has made a big difference in winning dual meets.”

As for the Men’s team, Spader showed dominance. He again won two events for the team, as he placed first in the 1,000 yard freestyle (10:25.94) and the 500 yard freestyle (5:01.05) in his final meet at Elting Pool.

“This weekend’s win was a huge accomplishment,” Spader said. “Oneonta is a big rival and we have been trying to topple them since my sophomore year.”

For the Men’s team, this was their first victory against Oneonta since November 2011 Both teams will next face SUNY Geneseo on

Saturday, Jan. 31. This will be a tough test for the Hawks, Spader said, as Geneseo took home both the Men’s and Women’s Swimming SUNYAC titles last season. This will be each team’s last matchup before the SUNYAC Tournament starts on Thursday, Feb. 19.

“Geneseo is a formidable opponent so we will see some tough competition in every event,” Spader said. “That meet will be a final checkpoint to determine what approach [Whitbeck] will take with our training.”

As a way to start preparing for the SUNYAC Tournament, Whitbeck has begun the process of what he likes to call “tapering.” “[Tapering] is a gradual reduction in volume and intensity that allows for our team to ‘peak’ at the championship meet,” he said. “It’s the time of the season that everyone looks forward to as the workouts are not as intense and the swimmers feel a lot better. After our meet against Geneseo, we will move into a full taper phase for the final two and a half weeks.”

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

SPORTS

The New Paltz Oracle

Home Isles Advantage Kramerm2@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

The hockey world has had nothing but respect for the New York Islanders recently – and rightfully so.

The two biggest games I watched during the winter break were definitely the shutout of the rival New York Rangers on Tuesday, Jan. 13. To shutout their rivals in their opponent’s arena, Madison Square Garden, was a huge momentum boost (as if the Isles needed any more momentum). The Isles then defeated their other rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 in a come-from behind victory in their next game. Isles forward Kyle Okposo scored four goals in the victory, recording his first career hat-trick.

Okposo is stepping up to become the player that the organization knows he can be. I still do not understand how he was snubbed from the USA Olympic team last year. When the final buzzer sounded to mark the end of the third period, the Isles all gathered around the center ice logo, raised their sticks and saluted the crowd back with a “Yes, Yes, Yes!” chant. That was such an incredible sight to witness. Seeing that made me think of the team doing that after a playoff victory in a couple of months on home ice.

They are rolling over nearly every team they face with bulldozer-esque force.

Unfortunately, it was announced on Monday, Jan. 26 that Okposo will be out approximately six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury while on the verge of having a career season. He is second on the Islanders with 44 points in 46 games and third with 14 goals behind Captain John Tavares, who went down with a season-ending injury during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The team needs to stay as resilient as they have been and not let the subtraction of Okposo get to their heads. That happened last year. The loss of their Captain affected their play the rest of last season. On a positive note, if he is out at most eight weeks, he still has the last week or two of the season to get back in the lineup.

All of the Isles’ success in this breakout season is due to every member on this team. They all bring something dif-

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15

Yes, Yes, Yes! ferent to the table to contribute to wins, and most importantly, it reveals their depth. This is the year the young team is meshing and proving their growth to the rest of the league.

One asset to the Isles’ success this season is due in part to goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who was elected to the 2015 All-Star Game. Halak has been a dominant force in net this season. He is third in the NHL in wins with 26. The “Halakness Monster” has been a brick wall and consistent in the net–something the Isles have finally gained throughout past seasons of mediocre goaltending.

As always, Isles Captain John Tavares has been outstanding and has been the definition of “clutch,” putting the team on his back while scoring goals in crucial spots. His play has earned him a spot on the 2015 All-Star Team as well.

Isles forward Josh Bailey is finally heat-

Isles continue breakthrough season.

ing up and playing consistently –something Isles fans, coaches and management have been waiting for for years.

Another bright spot of many for the Isles this season is the growth and development of forward Ryan Strome. Strome has become a crucial part of the power play and has become a playmaker as well. I have to give forward Brock Nelson a stick tap as well. Those two along with Anders Lee will be a key part of the Isles success for years to come and they will only continue to learn and improve the more experience they have.

Having forward Michael Grabner healthy and back in the lineup on the penalty kill is another key component.

His speed and defense throws off opponents.

Similarly, forward Nikolay Kulemin has shown off his speed and short-handed skill as well, netting two goals on

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER DINUR

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Monday, Jan. 19 against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 7-4 victory. Goal-scoring has been crucial to the team’s success as they are second in the League with an average of 3.17 goals per game.

Of course, I certainly have to give credit to the defense. I have said it before and I will again, defense wins championships. This season is the first time in a long time the Isles have had a great defensive core. The additions of veterans Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy have had a chain reaction down to the rest of the defensive core. I am crossing my fingers that General Manager Garth Snow can lock both of them up to long-term contracts. It just has not been a good trend with big-name players agreeing to play for the Isles, but then leaving the following year. Calvin de Haan has begun to develop into a key defenseman.

Last but not least, I am giving credit to the fourth-line. Former NHL head coach and current hockey analyst Don Cherry is as well. During one of his “Coach’s Corner” segments on Hockey Night in Canada, Cherry praised them, calling the Isles fourth-line consisting of Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas “the toughest line in hockey.”

Yes, that I can agree with. They are the sparkplug to the team’s aggressiveness.

Coming off of the All-Star break, the Isles defeated the New York Rangers 4-1 on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The Isles have won all three season matchups against the Rangers this season. Forward Mikhail Grabovski netted a beauty of a goal to take a 1-0 lead in the first period. The fourth-line contributed to a gritty goal.

Top opponents in the conference have not been a problem for the Isles this season.

There were questions going into the All-Star break whether or not the Isles will continue to keep up their strong play during the second half of the season.

The Isles currently sit atop the Metropolitan Division and next host the Boston Bruins Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.

Here’s to many more “Yes, yes, yes!” chants.

Sports The New Paltz Oracle

WHAT’S INSIDE

Women’s Basketball Splits SUNYAC Weekend

KILL-ER

Men’s Basketball Looks For Home Wins PAGE 13

START

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON WITH TWO WINS : PAGE 11

UPPER AND LOWER PHOTOS BY THERESA MATTIA MAIN PHOTO BY JUNIATA SPORTS INFORMAITON

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